Damage to Civil Engineering Structures

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2023) | Viewed by 8383

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos 8082, Cyprus
Interests: structural robustness; progressive collapse; structural fire engineering; steel and composite structures; steelwork connections; numerical modelling; performance-based design

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Civil engineering structures are frequently exposed to highly influential actions that may considerably affect their functioning condition, degrade their stiffness and strength, or cause substantial damage to key structural components which, under certain conditions, can lead to widespread collapse. These may include environmental effects; long-term vibration; seismic events; accidental events such as fire, blast, or impact; and others. Regardless of the cause and the extent of the damage, limiting the subsequent effects on the structural behaviour–either through timely rehabilitation, the appropriate strengthening of existing structures, or the proper design of new structures to effectively respond to such actions—is of the utmost importance. In this Special Issue, authors are kindly invited to submit high-quality original papers presenting new research developments, case studies, projects in progress, and review studies related to structural damage due to environmental actions, aging effects, or exposure to extreme loading conditions such as fire, explosion, or earthquake. Papers may cover new design methodologies aimed at minimizing the potential impact of the structural damage that may occur due to any of the above causes, novel rehabilitation approaches, assessment and upgrading methods, and controlled demolition of severely damaged structures.

Dr. Panagiotis Stylianidis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • structural robustness
  • progressive collapse
  • retrofit of structures
  • blast-resistant structures
  • structural fire resistance
  • seismic actions
  • fatigue of structures
  • rehabilitation methods
  • corrosion-affected structures
  • controlled demolition

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

28 pages, 14876 KiB  
Article
Blast Loading of Small-Scale Circular RC Columns Using an Explosive-Driven Shock Tube
by Mohamed Ben Rhouma, Azer Maazoun, Aldjabar Aminou, Bachir Belkassem, Ignaas Vandenbruwane, Tine Tysmans and David Lecompte
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040921 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 901
Abstract
Reinforced concrete (RC) columns, being axial-bearing components in buildings, are susceptible to damage and failure when subjected to blast loading. The failure of these columns can trigger a progressive collapse in targeted buildings. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the [...] Read more.
Reinforced concrete (RC) columns, being axial-bearing components in buildings, are susceptible to damage and failure when subjected to blast loading. The failure of these columns can trigger a progressive collapse in targeted buildings. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the failure characteristics of laboratory-scale RC columns subjected to localized blast loading. The columns, with a length of 1500 mm and an outer diameter of 100 mm, are reinforced with 6 mm diameter longitudinal bars and 2 mm diameter steel ties. The blast loading is generated using an explosive-driven shock tube (EDST) positioned in front of the mid-span of the RC columns with a 30 g and 50 g charge. To capture the global response of the RC columns, high-speed stereoscopic DIC is used in addition to LVDTs. Furthermore, an FE model is developed using LS-DYNA R10.0 and validated against the experimental data. The results show that the proposed FE approach is able to reproduce the applied blast loading and the failure characteristics of the columns. The relative difference in column mid-span out-of-plane displacement between the FE model and the average measured data lies below 5%. Finally, the gray correlation method is conducted to assess the influence of various parameters on the blast resistance of the RC columns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damage to Civil Engineering Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5826 KiB  
Article
The Effects of River Torrents and Debris on Historic Masonry Vaulted Arch Bridges
by Philippe Van Bogaert and Hans De Backer
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010054 - 24 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 929
Abstract
The carrying capacity for vertical loads of well-maintained masonry arch bridges is reasonably high. This might not be the case for horizontal loads, the effects of which have not been the subject of extensive research aside from seismic occurrences. Arch bridges crossing rivers [...] Read more.
The carrying capacity for vertical loads of well-maintained masonry arch bridges is reasonably high. This might not be the case for horizontal loads, the effects of which have not been the subject of extensive research aside from seismic occurrences. Arch bridges crossing rivers are subjected to sudden horizontal loads, due to river torrents, carrying debris from higher grounds. The magnitude of these horizontal loads is similar to those of coastal waves and debris; however, their effect on these structures has yet to be explored in detail. The narrow and high Devil’s Bridge across the Arda River (BG) and the wide, low Candia Viaduct across the Sesia River (I) were chosen as examples. Both are strongly exposed to fast-washing flow in the river during spring. FE simulations show that the impact of the rapidly rising river water influences the general stability, while the effect of debris mainly causes local damage. The results exhibit that tall, slender masonry arch structures fail due to the brittle fracture of the material, followed by the shear failure of a pier body. In contrast, lower and wider viaducts fail due to exaggerated tensile cracking in the upstream parts of a pier and the associated increasing pressure at its downstream parts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damage to Civil Engineering Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5994 KiB  
Article
Blast-Resistance and Damage Behavior of Underwater Explosion for Concrete Gravity Dam Considering Concrete Strength Partition
by Wenlong Huo
Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2237; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092237 - 3 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1431
Abstract
The consequences of dam damage caused by explosions, wars, and terrorist attacks are extremely serious, and they can cause casualties among downstream residents. Studying the damage behaviors of dams is a prerequisite for improving their anti-knock performance. Researchers view the dam as homogeneous [...] Read more.
The consequences of dam damage caused by explosions, wars, and terrorist attacks are extremely serious, and they can cause casualties among downstream residents. Studying the damage behaviors of dams is a prerequisite for improving their anti-knock performance. Researchers view the dam as homogeneous for research; but in reality, the concrete strength of the dam decreases from bottom to top. The partitioning of dam concrete strength can meet the different functional and economic requirements of a concrete gravity dam (referred to as concrete strength partition gravity dam (CSPGD)). Therefore, CSPGD shows a more complex dynamic performance and failure characteristics under the impact load of an underwater explosion. First, by investigating the current status of anti-knock research on CSPGDs, a fully coupled finite element numerical model for an underwater explosion of CSPGD was established. Considering the initial stress such as the self-weight of the dam, the upstream reservoir hydrostatic pressure, and the uplift pressure of the dam foundation during the service period, the anti-knock performance of CSPGD was studied. The results showed that the interface of CSPGD had a strain rate effect under the action of blast load, and it was easy to produce tensile failure at a low strain rate. In addition, the dynamic response and damage characteristics under different explosion scenarios such as explosive charge weight (w), detonation depth (D), and standoff distance (R) were further studied. The dam crest was always a weak anti-knock part, and the foundation anti-sliding stability was also very important to dam safety. Therefore, it was proposed and suggested to use the crack length of the dam crest and dam foundation to evaluate the overall anti-knock capacity of CSPGD. The study also found that the detonation depth affected the response time of dam damage and had a significant impact on the anti-knock performance of CSPGD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damage to Civil Engineering Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 11726 KiB  
Article
Cause Investigation of Fractures in the Anti-Arc Portion of the Gravity Dam’s Overflow and the Top of the Substation Tunnel
by Wenwen Liang, Lingye Leng, Hao Tian, Xiao Tian and Caihong Zhang
Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061531 - 15 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1028
Abstract
Clarifying the origins of fractures and adopting acceptable repair plans are crucial for the design, maintenance, and safe operation of concrete gravity dams. In this research, numerical simulation is largely utilized to investigate the reasons for fractures in the anti-arc portion of the [...] Read more.
Clarifying the origins of fractures and adopting acceptable repair plans are crucial for the design, maintenance, and safe operation of concrete gravity dams. In this research, numerical simulation is largely utilized to investigate the reasons for fractures in the anti-arc portion of the concrete gravity dam and the top of a substation tunnel in Guangdong Province, China. The calculation parameters are chosen based on the design information and engineering expertise to model the temperature field and stress field distribution of the dam during both normal operation and severe weather. The study demonstrates that under the effect of severe structural restraints and high temperatures, the tensile stress at the top of the substation tunnel would be 2.64 MPa in the summer, which is more than the tensile strength by 1.5 MPa and causes deep cracks. The tensile stress reaches 3.0 MPa in the summer under the effect of severe weather near the top of the substation tunnel. When a cold wave strikes in the winter, the concrete’s tensile stress on the overflow dam surface rises from 1.6 MPa to 4.0 MPa, exceeding the tensile strength by 1.9 MPa, resulting in the formation of a connection fracture in the reverse arc section. Both the actual observed crack location and the monitoring findings of the crack opening, as determined by the crack gauge, agree with the modeling results. The technique to lessen the structural restrictions of a comparable powerhouse hydropower station is pointed out based on engineering expertise, and various and practical repair strategies are proposed to guarantee the structure’s safe operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damage to Civil Engineering Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

26 pages, 4381 KiB  
Review
Survey on the Role of Beam-Column Connections in the Progressive Collapse Resistance of Steel Frame Buildings
by Panagiotis Stylianidis and John Bellos
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1696; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071696 - 2 Jul 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
The behavior of steel frame buildings under progressive collapse conditions depends on a combination of several parameters, including the interplay between different collapse resistance mechanisms that are mobilized in different structural components. Previous studies have shown that the extent to which these mechanisms [...] Read more.
The behavior of steel frame buildings under progressive collapse conditions depends on a combination of several parameters, including the interplay between different collapse resistance mechanisms that are mobilized in different structural components. Previous studies have shown that the extent to which these mechanisms may contribute to progressive collapse resistance depends on the ability of the beam-column connections to undergo large inelastic deformations prior to reaching their deformation capacity limits. For this reason, and due to the important role of their flexural strength and tying capacity in the development of essential collapse resistance mechanisms, the response of beam-column connections is one of the most important features of progressive collapse performance. Based on the knowledge gained through previous studies on the mechanics of this problem, the role of these connections are critically reviewed in this paper by examining the results of several experimental studies that have been conducted during the past decade. The factors that may adversely affect progressive collapse resistance–such as the failure modes of certain connection types–are evaluated, and novel approaches to limiting these factors, which are currently under development, are reviewed. The assessment of these parameters leads to useful conclusions of practical significance while highlighting the aspects of these problems that need further study and understanding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damage to Civil Engineering Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

16 pages, 7211 KiB  
Case Report
Performance of Epoxy-Injection and Microorganism-Based Crack-Healing Techniques on Cracked Flexural Members
by Sadaqat Ullah Khan, Tehmina Ayub and Sadia Khan
Buildings 2023, 13(11), 2697; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13112697 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 940
Abstract
Reinforced concrete (RC) members are designed to crack and the crack width usually remains within the service limit; however, these micro-cracks make structures susceptible to the infiltration of aggressive substances, especially near the coastline. Thus, the healing of these cracks is necessary before [...] Read more.
Reinforced concrete (RC) members are designed to crack and the crack width usually remains within the service limit; however, these micro-cracks make structures susceptible to the infiltration of aggressive substances, especially near the coastline. Thus, the healing of these cracks is necessary before they further widen and spread. This study focused on the development and application of a crack-healing solution using microorganisms of the class bacillus; healing was observed through a crack-sensing camera. The aim was to regain the load-carrying capacity of the concrete member to meet the serviceability limit state requirements after healing the crack. The performance of the crack-healing solution was compared with the epoxy-injection method. Five full-scale RC beams of 100 × 200 × 1800 mm in dimension were cast using concrete designed with a cylindrical compressive strength of 21 MPa. After curing for up to 28 days, the beam specimens were tested and subjected to four-point bending to produce a flexural crack of width 1–3 mm. One of the beams was treated to fill the crack by injecting epoxy, while the three other similar beams were treated using a crack-healing solution consisting of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis), nutrient (calcium nitrate), and transporting agents. The healing solution was applied directly to the opened crack with silica gel and with cement slurry in three similar beams cracked under flexural load. The cracks in the beam treated with the crack-healing solution were sealed and kept moist for a further 14 days. After curing, all of the beams including the control (without treatment) were tested again and were subjected to four-point bending until failure to observe the effect of the crack repairs on the flexural response. It was observed that both systems were equally good at enhancing the serviceability limit state and improving the load-carrying capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damage to Civil Engineering Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop